Mutation of doublesex induces sex-specific sterility of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

Yaohui Wang; Xi'en Chen; Zulian Liu; Jun Xu; Xiaowei Li; Honglun Bi; Awawing A Andongma; Changying Niu; Yongping Huang

doi:10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103180

Mutation of doublesex induces sex-specific sterility of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella

Insect Biochem Mol Biol. 2019 Sep:112:103180. doi: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103180. Epub 2019 Jul 3.

Authors

Yaohui Wang¹, Xi'en Chen², Zulian Liu², Jun Xu², Xiaowei Li², Honglun Bi², Awawing A Andongma³, Changying Niu⁴, Yongping Huang⁵

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, 200032, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
² CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, 200032, China.
³ Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
⁴ Hubei Key Laboratory of Insect Resource Application and Sustainable Pest Control, College of Plant Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. Electronic address: niuchangying88@163.com.
⁵ CAS Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Shanghai, 200032, China. Electronic address: yphuang@sibs.ac.cn.

PMID: 31278987
DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2019.103180

Abstract

DOUBLESEX (DSX): the downstream gene in the insect sex determination pathway, plays a critical role in sexual differentiation and development. The functions of dsx have been characterized in several model insect species. However, the molecular mechanism and functions of sex determination of dsx in Plutella xylostella, an agricultural pest, are still unknown. In present study, we identified a male-specific and three female-specific Pxdsx transcripts in P. xylostella. Phylogenetic analyses and multiple sequence alignment revealed that Pxdsx is highly conserved in lepidopterans. The CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to induce mutations in the male-specific isoform, the female-specific isoform, and common regions of Pxdsx. Disruptions of Pxdsx sex-specific isoforms caused sex-specific defects in external genitals and partial sexual reversal. In addition, we found that female specific transcripts were detected in Pxdsx^M male mutants and male-specific transcripts were detected in Pxdsx^F female mutants. Mutations also caused changes in expression of several sex-biased genes and induced sex-specific sterility. This study demonstrates that Pxdsx plays a key role in sex determination of P. xylostella and suggests novel genetic control approaches for the management of P. xylostella.

Keywords: CRISPR/Cas9; Doublesex; Plutella xylostella; Sex determination; Sterility.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
CRISPR-Cas Systems
Female
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Genitalia / abnormalities
Infertility / genetics
Male
Moths / genetics*
Moths / growth & development
Mutation
Phylogeny
Sequence Alignment
Sex Differentiation / genetics*